America’s National Restaurant Association (NRA) is considering whether to release a statement from one of the women who allegedly accused Herman Cain of inappropriate behaviour. The allegations, which were reported at the weekend, are threatening to engulf Cain’s campaign for the Republican White House nomination.

If the statement is published, it will possibly provide the first details of the allegations. The women allegedly signed non-disclosure agreements but one of the women has now apparently asked for that agreement to be lifted so that her statement can be published. It is by no means certain that the NRA will decide to accept this request.

Cain’s campaign received a boost through October thanks to headline-grabbing initiatives such as his 999 tax plan. Some see him as the only credible rival to frontrunner Mitt Romney for the GOP’s nomination, but the latest allegations threaten to derail his campaign and Cain will be hoping to settle the issue soon. To do that, though, he might need the details to come out so that the media stops digging.